Replacing my 2 DDs w/ 81 Chevy Malibu Special Iraqi Edition!

I have both my car, and my girlfriend's car up for sale. We've moved into a house (renting it) so both cars are for sale:

1. 2000 Audi TT Quattro 1.8 T

2. 2000 Dodge Intrepid

... and this is what's replacing both of them:

1981 Chevy Malibu LS (4door) Special "Iraqi Edition"




In 1981, General Motors of Canada in Oshawa produced a special order of 25,500 4-door Malibu sedans for Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government. These special-order Malibus carried the unusual combination of GM's 110 hp (3.8 L) V6 engine mated to 3-speed transmission with a unique on-the-floor stick shifter (yes, it's a 3 speed standard transmission). All of the cars were equipped with air conditioning, heavy duty cooling systems, AM/FM cassette decks, front bench seats, 200 km/h speedometers, tough tweed and vinyl upholstery and 14-inch (360 mm) stamped steel wheels with "baby moon" hubcaps. However, only 13,000 units ever made it to Iraq; the remaining balance of about 12,500 additional Malibus either sitting on a dock in Halifax or awaiting port shipment in Oshawa, where they were built. Later speculation was that the Iraqis were actually forced to back out for financial reasons, due to their escalating hostilities with Iran requiring the immediate diversion of funds to support the Iraqi war effort.

Re: Replacing my 2 DDs w/ 81 Chevy Malibu Special Iraqi Edit

Pennsy86Montessguy said:

That's pretty interesting. Where did you come across this vehicle at?

Click to expand...

Actually, clean8485 was partially correct.

The car was on Kijiji, I did a search just to get a feel of what's out there, with a 1000km radius. Found the ad for this 81 Malibu, located at Base Petawawa, he was asking $1500. So I emailed him, asking if he was in a hurry to sell the car.

He called me back right away, and left a seriously detailed message about the car and that he's dropping the price by $500.

That made me switch from "just browsing" to "how can I get this car" ... the drive up there and back, was 6 hours 44 minutes, each way (as per google maps) but it took longer for stopovers etc..

Kinda fun driving the 3 speed on-the-floor shifter in a 4 door car. Reverse gear is where first gear normally is!!! Weird, but I got used to it.

The car really is in great shape. No interior rattle and no sagging doors. The doors close like on a new car. It's solid and drives smooth. Also has brand new tires on it. Interior is a bit faded (tan) especially the front door panels, but I will either dye them or cover them with vinyl. The front bench seat is tweed, from factory, and looks absolutely brand new.

Other plans... bodywork, black paint, 17" Boss wheels staggered, and as time/money permits, 383 stroker SBC and 5 or 6 speed transmission, posi rear end with disc brakes. And 2 chrome tailpipes out the back. I seen one like that before... and drooled all over the ground looking at it. Now I get to make my own 4 door muscle car

Re: Replacing my 2 DDs w/ 81 Chevy Malibu Special Iraqi Edit

Thanks for the comments guys and yes Beermonkey, the future plans for the motor are:

383 SBC (preferrably supercharged)
6 speed gear box
Detroit Locker rear end with disc brakes

Those mods ^^ however, may take a while